Professor Gray's recent article highlights various damage caused by Brexit and discusses the foreseeable consequences that were ignored during the Brexit debate. The author mentions that they do not aim to provide a comprehensive weekly record of Brexit damage, as others are already documenting it. Nonetheless, they express the need to address the issue due to its impact on lives, society, and the economy.
The article begins by discussing the record level of Foreign Direct Investment in Germany, driven by UK companies seeking to maintain a presence in the single market. This investment outflow is evidence of the predicted consequences of Brexit, which have led to a significant reduction in domestic business investment.
Next, the article points out the significant drop in UK fruit exports to the EU since the end of the transition period. This decline is attributed to the new regulatory and customs barriers imposed by Brexit, further illustrating the adverse effects on British farming.
The author then highlights a new requirement for UK-produced food sold in the UK to be labeled as "not for sale in the EU." This labeling originates from the Windsor Framework and is applied nationwide to reduce labeling costs between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, the article notes a misunderstanding among consumers who interpret this labeling as indicating sub-standard quality. This misconception reflects the broader misunderstanding of what it means to be outside the EU's single market and the shared standards and regulations it entails.
The article also mentions an offer made by the EU in 2021 to treat UK produce as if it originated within the single market, provided the UK agreed to align its standards with the EU's. However, the UK rejected this offer due to concerns over sovereignty and potential restrictions on changing standards in the future.
The article discusses the delayed introduction of UK import controls from October 2023. It clarifies that the stories of UK customers paying import duties on EU goods immediately after the transition period resulted from the customs border created by Brexit, not the regulatory border. The article notes that introducing import controls will likely lead to shortages, higher prices, and reduced consumer choices, as seen in the rising food prices attributable to Brexit.
The author then mentions the potential threat the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill poses. While the UK's data protection regulations are currently accepted as "adequate" by the EU, this status is subject to review and renewal. Losing adequacy would severely limit data sharing between the EU and the UK, impacting commercial and security purposes.
Lastly, the article highlights the government's decision to prohibit overseas postgraduate students from bringing their families to the UK. This policy is seen as economically damaging, impacting university finances, intellectual and cultural contributions, and the UK's soft power.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the accumulating damage caused by Brexit and calls attention to the previously dismissed consequences as "Project Fear." It warns of the impending impact of import controls, data protection regulations, and immigration policies, highlighting the need to acknowledge and address these issues to benefit lives, society, and the economy.
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